218 ON ANIMAL 



then it is considered dangerous. But these 

 experiments, for obvious reasons, are not to be 

 too hastily depended upon. 



Having finished our remarks upon the first and 

 second classes of animal poisons, and proposing 

 to reserve our observations upon the third class, 

 viz. the different contagions, for a more suitable 

 opportunity; we shall now proceed to the con- 

 sideration of those poisons which are derived 

 from the vegetable kingdom. 



Vegetable poisons have been divided into acrid, 

 and narcotic, according to the effects which they 

 produce, upon being received into the stomach ; 

 the first, or acrid, causing pain, inflammation, 

 and erosion of the parts to which they are im- 

 mediately applied, and acting more remotely 

 upon the distant organs ; the latter, or narcotic, 

 acting principally upon the brain and nervous 

 system, and less dangerously on the stomach and 

 other parts of the grand intestinal canal, to which 

 they have been first applied. This distinction, 

 however, is not to be made without some reserve; 

 since all the vegetable poisons produce a com- 

 bined effect upon the digestive organs, and upon 

 the brain and nervous system ; it being only in a 

 relative degree, that the difference is to be ob- 

 served. 



It would be an endless attempt, and not very 

 amusing, to give you a detailed account of all the 

 vegetable poisons, which have been termed acrid ; 



